Ocean City's 2014 Citizen of the Year Leon Costello
A host of friends, family, colleagues, city, county and state officials took turns Tuesday night honoring Leon Costello, a man who grew up in Ocean City and gave back more to the city than he ever took from it.
Costello was named Citizen of the Year at the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Awards Dinner at the Ocean City Yacht Club. About 200 people were on hand to wish him well.
Costello is a lifelong resident of Ocean City and a managing partner with the accounting firm Ford-Scott & Associates, LLC. His firm audits governmental and nonprofit entities.
Costello has been an active member in the community supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Boy Scouts, United Way, the Ocean City Senior Men’s Golf League, Ocean City Free Public Library and is a coach for Ocean City youth baseball and basketball.
![Ocean City Regional Chamber President Bill McMahon, Citizen of the Year Leon Costello and Cape May County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti.](https://accessglobal.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/siteimports/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Costello_Leon-2-300x237.jpg)
Ocean City Regional Chamber President Bill McMahon, Citizen of the Year Leon Costello and Cape May County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti.
He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their son Alexander and daughter Juliana. He has three adult children.
His friends see him around town at "almost every children's event." His free time is spent with family, dining out, gardening and cooking. He's also known to crush a good golf shot now and then.
The awards dinner also included the following recipients:
Outstanding Business New Construction
- Glazed Over & The Sneaker Shop
- Bennie’s Breads
- Starbucks
Outstanding Business Renovation/Improvement
- Adelene in Port-O-Call Hotel
- Mario’s Pizzeria
- Prep’s Pizzeria
Environmentally Friendly Award
- City of Ocean City for 14th Street Playground and bike racks at 8th & 11th streets
Outstanding Landscaping/Signage Award
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
- Mayor Gillian, City Council, and Downtown Merchants representative Paul Cunningham for the city’s new Christmas decorations
Outstanding Civic Organization
- Ocean City Community Center Association
- Ocean City Youth Athletic Association
Outstanding New Business
Outstanding Service to the Community
Outstanding Use of Technology
- Halliday Architects
- Ocean City Development Group